How Much Breast Milk Should My Baby Be Eating?
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Newborn Needs
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A newborn may eat about 25 oz. per day, split up into six to eight feedings, says Kelly Bonyata, lactation consultant and author of "How Much Expressed Milk Will My Baby Need?" Babies will eat a greater amount and more frequently when they go through growth spurts at 1 to 3 weeks, 6 to 8 weeks, 3 months and 6 months, says Dr. Gwen Dewar, author of "The Infant Feeding Schedule: Why Babies Benefit From Being Fed On Demand."
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Older Babies
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When the baby turns 6 months old, he will be introduced to solid foods. At this point, he will still need breast milk, and may drink up to 30 oz. of breast milk per day, Bonyata says. However, this is dependent on how much solid food his diet contains. A baby who eats more solid food may need less breast milk.
Bottom Line
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A baby can be exclusively fed breast milk for the first six months of life. Generally, he will eat 2 to 3 oz. of breast milk at each feeding, and more when he is going through a growth spurt. As he grows, he will require more breast milk, and may eventually eat up to 4 oz. ounces per feeding. When he is introduced to solid foods, he may be up to 30 oz. a day, and his need for breast milk will gradually decrease as he eats more solid food.
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